MS. PERINO: Good morning. I'll give you a little bit about the
President's day, and then I'm going to give you a little bit of an
update on next week.

The President had his intelligence briefing this morning. He
continues to get regular updates on the foreign policy developments.
He's been spending some time outdoors at his ranch, improving the land,
of which, as you know, he takes great pride in, and spending time with
Mrs. Bush and family friends throughout the week.

For next week, a couple of you have asked for some specifics. On
Monday, August 22nd, the President will make remarks to the Veterans of
Foreign Wars National Convention that's being held in Salt Lake City,
Utah; open press. He will remain overnight in Donnelly, Idaho.

Tuesday, there are no public events, still he will be in Donnelly,
Idaho. And Wednesday, August 24th, the President will make remarks on
the war on terror, and that's in Nampa, Idaho. And then he'll return to
the ranch that night.

With that, I'll happily take your questions.

Q What's in Donnelly? What's he doing in Donnelly?

MS. PERINO: I'll see if I can get some more on that. I don't
know.

Q Is that a recreational stop, Donnelly?

MS. PERINO: I'll see what I can find for you. I don't have it
right now.

Q Does the President have any plans at all to meet with Cindy
Sheehan? And what did you think about the latest, you know, thing where
the crosses were destroyed along the road?

MS. PERINO: The President said in his -- last Thursday, when he
spoke to you all after the defense meeting, that he sympathizes with
her, he has met with her before. He said that one of the most cherished
rights in America is the right to free speech and that she has a right
to express her views. He does not agree with her views, but he says he
respects her right to peacefully protest. But, other than that, I have
nothing more to add.

Q When President Bush signed the energy bill last week he said
it was going to do nothing to immediately impact gas prices. But now
you've got the prices up to $3 a gallon in some places. Is there
nothing that the federal government can do to help Americans who are
feeling it at the pump?

MS. PERINO: You're right, the energy bill was signed a week ago,
on Monday. The President has long said that this is a problem that took
decades to develop, it's not going to be solved overnight. The energy
bill gives us an opportunity to get at the root causes of high energy
prices. The energy bill he signed last week will help us diversify
supply, so we'll be able to look for more supply here in America, as
well as diversify supply, which is important, as we look for alternative
and renewable fuels that will provide different types of fuel, as well
as cleaner burning types of fuel, which will have a better impact on the
environment.

The Department of Energy and EPA have a joint web site called,
Fueleconomy.gov. This is a place where people can learn about gas
mileage tips. One of the things that they have there are taken together
some of the efficiencies that they lay out in terms of keeping your car
in good shape, and other types of -- bundling trips so that you're only
going one way in your car and you don't have to make several different
trips. Taken together, you can achieve efficiencies that save up to a
dollar of savings per gallon.

But there is no doubt that high gas prices have an impact on the
economy, they're a drag on the economy. They have an impact on American
families, especially those who are getting in the car for the last gasp
of summer and trying to make a road trip, maybe to see the grandparents,
and that does have an impact. It also has an impact on small businesses
who rely on transportation, especially for deliveries -- or such as the
trucking industry. So there's no doubt it has a high impact, but again,
it's a problem that's developed over decades and it's not going to be
resolved overnight.

Q Will there be any press opportunity or photo opportunity on
Saturday when the President is going to bike ride with Lance Armstrong?

MS. PERINO: I'll need to get back to you in terms of the press
component, if there is any. But the President does look forward to
Lance Armstrong coming to the ranch. He's a great friend of the
President, has been a friend of his for many years. The President has
said that Lance is an incredible inspiration to people from all walks of
life, that he's a true American champion. So I think they'll enjoy
their visit on Saturday.

Q It will be the President and Lance Armstrong, or other people
involved? How is it going to be organized?

MS. PERINO: Right now, I believe it's just the President and Lance
Armstrong, but I will have to see if there's any more I can get. I have
a request in.

Q Do you expect them to race or just ride leisurely together?

MS. PERINO: I don't know. I think they do a little bit of
different types of riding.

Q Dana, can you tell -- I'm sorry, the overnight is Donnelly,
Idaho, on Tuesday night, or Monday night?

MS. PERINO: On Monday and Tuesday night.

Q In the same place, Donnelly, Idaho. Do you know how far that
is from Boise?

MS. PERINO: I don't know how far that is from Boise, but I can --
we can look at a map and try to figure it out.

Q I am, I can't find it. Okay. And Tuesday, he has no public
schedule in Donnelly?

MS. PERINO: No, ma'am.

Q Well, he must be doing something. Is he fishing with the Vice
President?

MS. PERINO: This is all the information I have right now, and I
can see if I can get you some more.

Q Is there a vice presidential component to this trip? You
don't know.

Q Dana, beyond the words of his written statement last evening,
was the President disappointed that the Iraqis did not meet the deadline
for drafting a constitution?

MS. PERINO: No. The President said he is encouraged by the fact
that all of the members that are working on the constitution are still
at the table. He's encouraged by their commitment to finishing the
process. You have the President's statement last night, as you said,
and the transcript from Secretary Rice's briefing. It's only been a few
hours since then, so the members that are writing the constitution
continue to do that. And their shared commitment to getting this
completed is very encouraging.

Q How confident are you that they will complete it by the new
deadline?

MS. PERINO: I'd refer you to Secretary Rice's comments yesterday.

Q What do you think about how the Gaza pullout is going?

MS. PERINO: Again, you have the transcript from the President's
interview with Israel TV, Channel 1, from last week. He supports Prime
Minister Sharon and his bold initiatives and believes that this will
strengthen Israel.

Q Does the President plan any meetings or remarks on Social
Security or immigration before going back to Washington?

MS. PERINO: I'll see if I can give you an update on that.

Q Dana, this just came in -- lawyers for the Pope have asked
President Bush to grant him immunity as a head of state concerning a
church sex abuse lawsuit in Texas in which the Pope is named as a
defendant. Reitzinger is named as an individual in the lawsuit, not as
a cardinal or Pope, and was successfully served with the lawsuit earlier
this year. Is President Bush inclined to grant him the immunity in
that?

MS. PERINO: As you know, I've been sitting here. That breaking
news just happened, so I'll have to get back to you.

Q Has the President ruled out any kind of intervention in this
possible Northwest Airlines stike?

MS. PERINO: I have nothing to add on what Trent Duffy provided you
yesterday.

Is that it?

Q Is there any White House response to reports over the weekend
that unnamed senior officials are willing to accept less from Iraq than
the President had said publicly?

MS. PERINO: I believe that people spoke to that over the weekend,
and I'll see if there's anything else I can get you.